Generating Momentum for a New Era in United States-Turkey Relations

53 Pages·2006·1.85 MB·English

Generating Momentum
for a New Era in
U.S.-Turkey Relations
Steven A. Cook
Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall
CSR NO. 15, JUNE 2006
COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
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CONTENTS
Foreword v
Acknowledgments vii
A Note on the Transliteration of Turkish Names ix
Map x
Acronyms xiii
Council Special Report 1
Introduction 3
Background 6
Sources of Friction 9
An Agenda for Action 24
Conclusion 34
Appendix 35
About the Authors 37

FOREWORD
Success for American foreign policy depends in large measure on the ability of the
United States to persuade others to support (or at least not work against) its policy goals.
Over the last half century, the United States has been able to rely upon a network of ties
with close allies around the world to achieve its objectives. Turkey has played an
important role in advancing U.S. interests in Europe and beyond. But over the last three
years, the U.S.-Turkish relationship has deteriorated markedly, and it is no longer a
foregone conclusion that Turkey will support U.S. policies. The consequences of a
rupture in ties between Washington and Ankara—or, more darkly, a Turkey that becomes
strategically disoriented—would be great, but have received little attention in policy
circles.
This Council Special Report makes the case that Turkey’s strategic importance is
greater than ever, and that a major effort needs to be undertaken to renew and revitalize
the relationship. Steven A. Cook and Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall argue that despite
significant sources of friction, both countries have a wide range of common interests that
begin in Turkey’s immediate neighborhood, such as the Balkans, the Caucasus, Iran, and
Iraq, but also extend farther afield to include Afghanistan, Central Asia, and the Middle
East. The report recommends a two-track diplomatic approach that will simultaneously
help to manage current policy differences and lay the groundwork for future cooperation
on a broader agenda.

Richard N. Haass
President
Council on Foreign Relations
June 2006
v

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
An essential element of a Council Special Report is the establishment of an advisory
group that offers an expanded perspective on the issues being examined by the authors.
Richard R. Burt led our advisory group (see Appendix) with distinction. We would like to
express our deep thanks to him and to each member of the group, many of whom took
time out of their demanding schedules to discuss our research and to provide very helpful
comments on the draft report. The product is much stronger as a result. We, of course,
bear responsibility for the content of the report, which does not necessarily reflect the
views of advisory group members.
The Country Team at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, welcomed and opened
doors for us during a fact-finding trip in January 2006. We appreciate its expert
assistance and insights into multiple dimensions of the bilateral relationship.
We are grateful to Ahmet M. Ertegun for contributing toward the funding of this
project. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall’s tenure at the Council has been generously
supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York under the auspices of its Carnegie
Scholars Program.
We also value the research and administrative support provided by three
exceptionally able assistants: Samm Tyroler-Cooper, Riad Houry, and Wrede
Petersmeyer.
Finally, we would like to thank Council President Richard N. Haass and Director
of Studies James M. Lindsay for their encouragement and guidance from the project’s
inception to this report’s completion.

Steven A. Cook
Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall

vii

A NOTE ON THE TRANSLITERATION OF TURKISH NAMES
The Council on Foreign Relations uses the Chicago Manual of Style for the transliteration
of Turkish names. As a result, all diacritical marks have been removed.
ix
MAPS

Source: From www.worldpress.org/specials/pp/turkey.htm.

Map 1: Turkey